The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-03-20
STATE BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
Interesting Detailed Review of the
Boards Third Annual Report.

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The advance sheets of the third annual
report Of of the State Board of Assessors
for the year 1886 has made its appearance,
and, like those which have preceded it, is
one of the most complete and exhaustive
of Slate documents. The report starts out
with review Of the litigation which has
been In progress for nearly three years ovtr
the constitutionality of the act of 1884
the act under which the Board owes its ex-
istence-hrst, and, secondly, as to the sys-
tenn of valuation adopted by the Board I'M
der tue act. II refers to and quotes the
elaborate secession handed down Dy Chief
Justice Beasiey declaring the act unconsti-
tutional, and goes on to state that The
ey-General, whose mastery argu-
ment ia this case before the Supreme Court
was alluded to in our last report, considered
1t his DUTY to the State to take an appeal
from this decision to the Court OF Errors
and Appeals--the court OF last resort in
New Jorsey-Whlch was accordingly done
After the fullest discussion in review of
the proceedings of the court below, includ-
ing the additional contention that the act
was in violation of the fourteenth amend
ment of the Federal Constitution, in which
the most eminent counsel of the State par
ticipated, this court reversed the decision
eft the Supreme Court by on almost unani.
nous yote-J usttce Depue alone dissent
lng-thus establishing the consututiopality
OF the law of 1884, and sending back the
records to the Supreme Court for adjudica-
ton OF the Other questions raised by the
contenolng companies, viz: those of VAL
uatlon, and the methods and rules
adopted by the Board for the ascertain
ment thereof. )"
The decision of Chancellor Runyon. re-
yersing the decision of the Supr me Court
Is also given in detail. The report goes ex-
tenslvely into statistics. The total length
of main line of railroads in the State at
the close OF 1886, was 1888, an increase of
70 miles for the curret.t year. Since Janu-
ary, 1886. articles of association have
been filed in the office of the Secretary of
State, providing for sundry extension and
connecting lines of railways, which If
carried through will add perhaps forty miles
to the railroad mileage of the State. The
total capital stock of all the railroads in
New Jersey is STA s66,259, while their
bonded debts foot up total of $I33, 261,-
747-making the total cost of the 1888
miles of road $248, 1928, DOG. The State
oOaAQ AdS tdiucu ILLS 1AtO, lzO,UOO Oh DTOH-
erty for the purposes OF taxation at but
S192. $50, 343 %, and yet all the railroads
are not happy. In 1885, "a, 735, 205 pas
sengers were carried over the roads of the
State, number exceeded only by the
States of New York. Pennsylvania, Massa-
chusetts and Illinois. 16,01S 800 tons of
freight were moved during the year.
an increase of nearly million
of tons over the preceding year.
The gross earnings from these sources,
freight and passenger, from all the roa is |
of the State for 1885. were $50, las, $50. as
against $50, 9l9, 622 for 1884 showing fall !
ing off of $775, 1853, equal to about "a per
cent, despite the fact above recited that
the volume of traffic, both passenger and
freight, was greater in 1885. which is ac-
counted for by small reduction in the |
rates for transportation. A comparison of
the assessments of 1885 and 1886 shows as
follows:
1885 1885 Increase
uation s1soese e51s5 s192 $780, s4s 2ss SOL So
StateTax 94S,48295 s64.901.75 It, AIS 80
Tax for
Taxing
Districts se7.78lss s72.ss41s 4,5s24s
Total FAX 1.sl62 1887. 265. 93 21,OO1, 40 |
The expenses of the Board for the year
ending October 81, 1886, was S12.8S4 rs.
The report concludes with large number
of tabulated statements showing a sum |
mary of the valuation and assessm ent of |
railroads and canals for 1886. Taken all |
together it is document of unusual inter |
est to every tax payer in the State and one |
of which every member of the Board and |
It's invaluable Secretary and Assistant |
John L Van Cleef and Irvine Mcguire may |
Justly feel proud.